GRAND BEND, Ontario -- Once a year the International Hot Rod AssociationT (IHRA) visits the shores of Lake Huron for three
full days of drag racing action. And for that one weekend, the fans of Grand Bend, Ontario pack the
house for an event unlike any other as the IHRA and Grand Bend Motorplex celebrate all things speed
and excitement at the annual IHRA Mopar Nitro Jam Nationals.

Thousands of race fans packed the Grand Bend Motorplex on
Saturday

Another massive crowd was on hand on Saturday to witness final qualifying and the opening round of
eliminations for all classes with the IHRA's Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series as top qualifiers Jason
Rupert (Nitro Funny Car), Mike Scott (Nitro Harley) and Don Blackshear (Nitro Altered) all survived
a grueling night of competition. Saturday saw final qualifying and first round eliminations in
Nitro Funny Car, Nitro Harley and Nitro Altered, while the remaining classes will begin
eliminations on Sunday.

In Nitro Jam competition, California native Jason Rupert, in the Bays and Rupert "Black Plague"
'69 Camaro, held down the top spot in qualifying and won his opening round matchup against Mike
Halstead in an attempt to avenge a dreadful last race. Joining Rupert, the top four qualifiers in
the Nitro Funny Car class from earlier in the day, Rupert, Mark Sanders, Mike McIntire Jr. and Tim
Boychuk, all advanced in the opening round. Boychuk led the way during the session with a
5.853-second pass at 243.83 mph in a win over Bruce Litton.

The fan-favorite nostalgia Nitro Funny Car class will see a number of interesting matchups on
championship Sunday as Rupert takes on Boychuk, coming off of low ET of round one, and McIntire
takes on Sanders.

The same scenario rang true in Nitro Harley as the top four qualifiers, Mike Scott, Mark Cox, Nate
Gagnon and Mike Pelrine, all advanced in the first round. Cox had low ET of the round with a 6.392,
216.45 in a win over Rob Brown. In the semifinal round, Scott will take on Pelrine, while Cox will
meet Gagnon.

Jay Turner, who is currently second in points, fell in round one to Scott after qualifying eighth.

Nitro Altered saw Don Blackshear, Ron Maroney and Troy Martin all advance to Sunday in a very
competitive round. Troy Martin had low ET of the first round with a 6.449, 219.13 after qualifying
second earlier in the day.

Nitro Jam's biggest field in Grand Bend is that of the PMRA Pro Modified series as local favorite
and IHRA veteran Rob Atchison paced the field with a 6.021, 237.96 pass. Jeff Roth sits second with
a 6.094, 233.64, followed by Bruce Boland (6.138), Mike Yedgarian (6.152) and Derek Hawker (6.236).
A total of 13 cars were on hand to contest the eight-car field which will begin eliminations on
Sunday.

IHRA's two fastest classes, Top Fuel and Jet Dragster, each got one hit at the track on Saturday,
with Ike Maier leading the way in Top Fuel with a 4.871, 261.32 and Elaine Larsen pacing Jet
Dragster with a 5.721, 273.47.

"Big Daddy" Don Garlits served as Grand Marshal in Grand Bend

IHRA's only final on Sunday came in Mountain Motor Pro Stock as the four-car exhibition went to
Anthony Paone of Woodbridge, Ontario, who bested IHRA's most recent national event winner John
Konigshofer with a 6.632, 200.89.

The IHRA Mopar Nitro Jam Nationals at the Grand Bend Motorplex will conclude on Sunday with day two
of the Summit Racing Equipment Pro-Am Tour and final rounds in all IHRA Nitro Jam Drag Racing
Series professional classes.